Boeing and the Indian Navy complete P-8I final design review

Indian Navy Sea Harriers and IAF SEPECAT Jagua...

Indian Navy officers along with Boeing have successfully completed the final design review (FDR) for the P-8I, India’s long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft based on the Boeing 737 commercial airplane.

Completion of the FDR locks in the design for the aircraft, radar, communications, navigation, mission computing, acoustics and sensors, as well as the ground and test support equipment.

India is the first customer for the P-8 outside the United States.

During the five-day FDR held in Renton, Washington state, USA, Indian Navy officers met with Boeing representatives from both the Defense, Space & Security and Commercial Airplanes divisions to review relevant design information and performance against specifications.

For the P-8I, since Boeing is incorporating not only India-unique design features, but also India-built subsystems, the FDR represents an agreement between the Indian Navy and Boeing, that the design addresses all customer requirements. This is a significant milestone which also paves the way for the program to begin assembling the first P-8I aircraft.

In a company statement, Vivek Lall, India country lead, Boeing Defense, Space & Security says

“The P-8I’s unique capabilities are tailored to India’s maritime-patrol requirements. It has the reach and capability to defend India’s vast coastline and maritime waters,”

Lall’s colleague, Leland Wight, Boeing’s P-8I program manager indicates

“We are on track to start fabricating the P-8I’s empennage section before the end of this year.”

Boeing will deliver the first P-8I to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, i.e. by 2013.

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About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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